Plot Summary of The 36 Crazy Fists (1977) – Jackie Chan’s Hidden Role
A determined young man seeks revenge after his father is murdered. He begins training at a martial arts school to face off against the killers. Packed with wild training montages, eccentric masters, and over-the-top fight choreography, this kung fu gem is a time capsule of 1970s Hong Kong cinema. Though Jackie Chan doesn’t star, he choreographed the action and makes a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo — giving fans a rare peek at his early influence.
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The 36 Crazy Fists Cast
- Chi-Hwa Chen
- Tony Leung Siu-Lung
- Carter Wong
- Jackie Chan (uncredited cameo)
Untold Backstory
Directed by Chen Chi-Hwa and produced under Lo Wei’s company, The 36 Crazy Fists was one of several low-budget kung fu films made to capitalize on Jackie Chan’s growing fame. Although Chan doesn’t headline the film, his fingerprints are all over the fight scenes — he served as the uncredited choreographer and briefly appears in a training sequence. It’s one of the few films where you can spot Jackie before he fully broke out as a leading man.
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The Fearless Hyena (1979)
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Rumble in Hong Kong (1973)